Lifetime of Cicero

1. 106 BC: Born on January 3rd in Arpinum, Roman Republic.
90 BC: Military service in the Social War.
81 BC :Cicero's first appearance as a lawyer
77 BC: Marries a woman by the name of Terentia
75 BC: Becomes Quaestor/Senator in Sicily
58 BC: Exiled. Travels to Northern Greece and falls into a deep depression
57 BC: After one year of suffering , he is recalled from Exile
50 BC: Returns to Rome
43 BC: known as an enemy of Rome. He is unsuccessful in trying to flee the country, murdered by Pompey’s
supporter.
Timeline

2. ● was born on January 3, 106 B.C.E. , at Arpinum near Rome, the oldest son of a wealthy landowner, also
named Marcus Tullius Cicero. At a young age Cicero began studying the writings in his father's library.
● He was rome's greatest speaker and innovative writer of verse, letters and works on philosophy and politics
that are greatly influenced European thoughts.”He is actually perceived to be one of the most versatile
minds of ancient rome, and is widely considered one of the rome's greatest orator and prose stylists.” (
Philosophy Basics). In the last years of the Roman Republic, great men like Julius Caesar and Pompey were
fighting over which of them would rule Rome. Cicero was one of the last men to stand up for the old
Republic, and try to keep the republican government going.
● Cicero did not care if Rome's leader called himself a dictator, a king, or an emperor. Cicero continued to
speak out against the rule of one man and spoke strongly for the virtues of a republic . Cicero was
assassinated because of his speeches against the emperor.
● He was killed on Mark Antony's demand on 7 December 43 BC , when he was trying to flee Italy.
● “ He was an important actor in many of the significant political events of his time, and his writings are
now a valuable source of information to us about those events.”( Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy).

3. He began his career by working in the courts of Rome for two years. He then went on to be elected quaestor,
aedile, and judge of Sicily. Cicero is best known for being consul in Rome in 63 BC. One of Cicero’s greatest
accomplishments while consul was destroying the catilinarian conspiracy. Cicero made two major speeches
denouncing Catiline and restoring the values of the republic.
After that,In 63 BC, Cicero was elected to consul, the highest position in the Roman government. During his time
as consul Cicero stopped a threat to overthrow the Roman republic. He was given the title Pater Patriae,
meaning "Father of the Country", by the Senate for his brave efforts.
● When Cicero was Quaestor for Sicily, the people asked him to win a case against their leader who
committed some crime , the powerful Gaius Verres. Cicero had little chance to win. Verres was powerful
and had engaged the best lawyer in all of Rome, Quintus Hortensius. However, Cicero saw the case as a
challenge and agreed to take it. Cicero went to Sicily and some evidence slowly emerged against Verres. He
then proceeded to present one of the best cases ever heard in a Roman court of law. during this case he
became known as the greatest orator in all of Rome. Cicero won the case making him very popular among
the people of Rome.

4. ● during the political life of Cicero,the creation of the first triumvirate (group of three leaders) formed. This
alliance consisted of Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus. Cicero believed the creation and the takeover of the
republic by the triumvirate was against the law. But, Cicero was forced to join the triumvirate as a favor to
Pompey
● His greatest desire was to save and free the republic. He was a man of peace and honor, pure in life and
purpose. He was undoubtedly the greatest orator of his day, and it is credit to him that his first surviving
speech was made against Cicero Hortensius, who was the greatest orator in Rome until Cicero made his
name there.
● Approximately, 60 speeches ( both as lawyer and senator) and over 900 letters and six influential books on
rhetoric and eight on philosophy. Have survived until today ( even though some fragmentary condition).
They they were designed with political purpose in mind.● The most direct way to appreciate Cicero’s influence is by reading his works .And he also wrote many
letters to friends and family s, such as the Epistulae as familiars, which can give us an idea about his
personal life

5. ● Cicero was afraid of Caesar's ambition for power. When Caesar asked him to become part of a powerful
alliance, Cicero refused. By doing this he made an enemy of Caesar. Not too long later, Caesar had
Cicero exiled from Rome. He left Rome for a year
● Cicero was away from Rome when civil war between Caesar and Pompey broke out. He aligned himself
with Pompey and then faced another exile when Caesar won the war, cautiously returning to Rome to
receive the dictator’s pardon.

6. ”Cicero (106—43 B.C.E.)”Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Clayton.Edward. Web.11.jan.2017.
E. Jones.”Brutus; Or, History of Famous Orators, Also, the Orator; Or, Accomplished Speaker (Dodo Press).”
1.jan.2010.Web.11.jan.2017.
Everitt, Anthony. “Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician.” Amazon. 2002. Web. 11.Jan.2017
S.Harley, Walter.“The Life of Marcus Tullius Cicero.” Verres Cicero. Web. 11.Jan.2107
Ferguson, John. ”Marcus Tullius Cicero.” Britannica. 5.Dec.2015.Web. 11.Jan.2017.
Works cited